Inside the horrific sequence of events that saw a dad bash a woman and then kill his four-year-old son before taking his own life in tragic murder-suicide

 

  • Troy Harvey, 45, killed his son Koah, four, and then took his own life at their home
  • In the weeks before he posted on Facebook about battling a mental 'breakdown'
  • Mr Harvey, a keen fisherman and boxercise teacher, had battled drug addiction
  • Koah's mother made a heartbreaking post on Facebook, apologising to her son 
  • 'I'm so sorry Koah l couldn't save you. Love you forever,' Natsuko Kurihara wrote
  • Detectives launched an investigation after attending the scene Friday morning 
  • Contact Lifeline for 24/7 confidential support on 13 11 14

A father who killed his son and then himself in a shocking murder-suicide posted on Facebook about his battles with mental health issues just weeks before the tragedy.

Troy Harvey, 45, and his son Koah, four, were found dead at a property at Rossville, north of Cairns in far north Queensland, on Friday morning.

Police initially attended the home after receiving a call from a 36-year-old woman a night earlier, who claimed she had been assaulted by Mr Harvey.

When officers arrived they made the grim discovery.

Tributes have flowed for the youngster in the days since his death, while Mr Harvey's social media posts are expected to form part of a coronial inquiry.

In early July, less than a month before the tragedy, Mr Harvey - a boxercise teacher - posted about how he had suffered through 'a full on nervous mental breakdown'.

Troy Harvey (pictured), 45, and his son Koah, four, were found dead at a property at Rossville, north of Cairns in far north Queensland, on Friday morning

Troy Harvey (pictured), 45, and his son Koah, four, were found dead at a property at Rossville, north of Cairns in far north Queensland, on Friday morning 

Koah, 4, (pictured) was killed by his dad in a horrific murder suicide in Queensland on Friday. In the aftermath his mother Natsuko Kurihara posted a heartbreaking dedication to her son and begged him to forgive her for not being able to 'save' him

Koah, 4, (pictured) was killed by his dad in a horrific murder suicide in Queensland on Friday. In the aftermath his mother Natsuko Kurihara posted a heartbreaking dedication to her son and begged him to forgive her for not being able to 'save' him

In early July, less than a month before the tragedy, Mr Harvey - a boxercise teacher - posted to his friends about how he had suffered through 'a full on nervous mental breakdown' (pictured)

In early July, less than a month before the tragedy, Mr Harvey - a boxercise teacher - posted to his friends about how he had suffered through 'a full on nervous mental breakdown' (pictured)

'I had a full on nervous mental breakdown whatever you want to call it,' he wrote. 

'I am so sorry to all the people I have hurt or let down over the years due to excessive drug and alcohol abuse.

'I am seeking help,so come on down get fit. Let's support those with mental health issues, past traumas, or any thing else that's seems to pull us down and feel like know where to run to.'  

Police are appealing for public assistance in their investigations and want to speak to anyone who had contact with Mr Harvey between August 28 and September 4.

They also want to speak to the driver of a silver vehicle who visited Mr Harvey's home on Friday morning Queensland detective inspector Jason Smith said.

Koah's mother Natsuko Kurihara posted a heartbreaking dedication to her son where she begged him to forgive her, saying 'I'm so sorry I couldn't save you'. 

'My beautiful boy Koah, he has had only four years of life, this has been taken by his father. He then took his own life,' Ms Kurihara posted on Saturday.

'I'm in pain life is not fair.

'Let the people you love know you love them as they can be taken from you.

Kurihara (pictured, left) wrote that her 'beautiful son' Koah (centre) was killed by his father, and expressed her pain that she 'couldn't save him'

Kurihara (pictured, left) wrote that her 'beautiful son' Koah (centre) was killed by his father, and expressed her pain that she 'couldn't save him'

Mum Natsuko Kurihara (pictured, left) said Koah's dad, Troy Harvey (right), had killed his own son

Mum Natsuko Kurihara (pictured, left) said Koah's dad, Troy Harvey (right), had killed his own son

Little Koah's mum issued a heartwrenching Facebook post after her little boy was killed by his own dad

Little Koah's mum issued a heartwrenching Facebook post after her little boy was killed by his own dad

'I'm so sorry Koah l couldn't save you. Love you forever.'

Detective Acting Inspector Jason Smith told The Cairns Post 'they worked on him for a significant period of time.'

He is one of a number of detectives who are specialist officers who are travelling to the remote town on the Cape York Peninsula in Far North Queensland about 30km north of Cooktown, on Saturday.

A crime scene has been established and detectives have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Harvey, 46, and the boy. 

'We're treating it seriously and looking at all possibilities. We'll have a total of eight detectives and we're seeking to speak to anyone who had any information about the family,' Dect Insp Smith said. 

Koah (pictured playing) was killed on Friday morning despite paramedics rushing to the scene to try and save his life

Koah (pictured playing) was killed on Friday morning despite paramedics rushing to the scene to try and save his life

'I'm so sorry Koah l couldn't save you. Love you forever,' his mum wrote on Facebook after the four-year-old (pictured) was killed

'I'm so sorry Koah l couldn't save you. Love you forever,' his mum wrote on Facebook after the four-year-old (pictured) was killed

Koah (pictured playing) was killed on Friday morning and his mum has posted a heartbreaking tribute

Koah (pictured playing) was killed on Friday morning and his mum has posted a heartbreaking tribute

It is understood Ms Kurihara was not at home when officers arrived on scene.

Ms Kurihara said there are 'no words to describe how I feel. Sad and regrets,' she posted to Facebook. 

Cook Shire Mayor Peter Scott described the incident as 'terrible' and offered his commiserations to the family and friends.

Pictures posted online appear to show the suspected killer as a loving, doting father. 

The town of Rossville has a population of just over 200 people.

Lion's Den Hotel pub owner, Darryl Paradise, said it's the kind of close-knit community where 'everyone knows everyone'. 

A keen fisherman, Mr Harvey (pictured) is understood to have posted a message to a local Facebook group apologising to people he had 'hurt or let down'

A keen fisherman, Mr Harvey (pictured) is understood to have posted a message to a local Facebook group apologising to people he had 'hurt or let down'

Harvey (pictured) took his own life after killing his young son, his mother alleged in a social media post

Harvey (pictured) took his own life after killing his young son, his mother alleged in a social media post

'We don't expect to see this sort of thing happening in the neighbourhood,' he told the ABC.

'We heard about it at lunch time today — we're all totally shocked and just find it hard to believe.

'It is a very small community, everybody knows everybody and everybody speaks to everybody.'

If you or anyone you know is in need of mental health support, you can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636.


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